Medicinal plants for oral health and hygiene
From chewing sticks to oil pulling, there are some excellent examples of natural ways to keep a healthy, beautiful smile.
I'm teaching my senior-level course "Botanical Medicine and Health" at Emory University this semester. Yesterday, we covered the unit on medicinal plants for oral health and hygiene. This unit is particularly enjoyable to teach because it allows us to explore the fascinating ways the human oral microbiome influences our health. Bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans and various Lactobacilli species initiate the creation of a mixed-species biofilm on the teeth, which later becomes plaque if not removed. These same microbes can lead to the creation of cavities. Additionally, microbes can cause inflammation in the gums and contribute to the development of periodontitis (more advanced gum disease).
What's incredible is that there are numerous examples of medicinal plants that have been successfully used as chewing sticks (natural toothbrushes), toothpicks, teeth blackening resins, and natural chewing gums. Many of these offer not only some mechanical disruption of biofilms on the teeth but also antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities in support of oral health. Curious about this topic? Check out a prior newsletter I wrote that takes a deeper dive into this topic. I've opened up access this week to free subscribers:
Should you swap out your plastic toothbrush for a stick?
For millennia, people have used plants to improve dental health and maintain oral hygiene, and this practice still persists today in many communities around the world. The modern toothbrush The origin of the modern toothbrush can be traced back to Babylonians who used chewing sticks as early as 3500 BC. Toothpicks…
What about oil pulling?
Unlike the mechanical disruption of biofilm that can be achieved with a miswak or neem chewing stick, oil pulling supports gum health through the capture and removal of food remnants and microbes in the mouth. I've written about this practice in the following post, which is now also accessible for a limited time to free subscribers:
Oil Pulling for Oral Health
Introduction to Oil Pulling The process of oil pulling involves taking a tablespoon of oil (usually coconut, sesame, palm, or sunflower oil) and swishing it around the mouth for 10-20 minutes, then spitting it out. During this process, the oil mixes with saliva and acts as a mouthwash, trapping bacteria in the oil. Proponents of oil pulling claim that it can improve oral health by reducing plaque buildup, freshening breath, and reducing the risk of gum disease.
Have you ever heard of teeth blackening?
Believe it or not, in some cultures, black teeth are considered to be the most beautiful. To achieve the dark black teeth, people first file the enamel with a rough stone, and then apply a soot composed of ash from certain plants and iron (from an axe or cast iron pot). This mixture is rich in tannin compounds that block the ability of bacteria to attach to surfaces and form the initial biofilm, which matures into plaque. While I haven’t written about this topic in detail yet, I can suggest an excellent documentary film on this practice among the B’laan people of the Philippines:
The Takeaway
Wherever humans have existed on Earth, there has been a local practice for oral healthcare involving plants. In some cases, the woody stems of certain trees were used to brush the teeth; in others, plant ash was rubbed along the tooth surface, plant oils were swished in the mouth, or the chewy latex of certain plants was used to remove loose bits of food stuck between the teeth. What’s incredibly interesting, though, is that the selection of species has never been happenstance. Scientific studies have revealed how these plant-based techniques work from a mechanistic basis—whether antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, or even analgesic (pain-relieving for toothache).
So much more awaits discovery in nature’s pharmacy.
Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a scientist, author, speaker, podcast host, wife, mother, explorer, and professor at Emory University School of Medicine. She teaches college courses and leads a group of research scientists studying medicinal plants to find new life-saving drugs from nature. She hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes the Nature’s Pharmacy newsletter to share the science behind natural medicines. To support her effort, consider a paid or founding subscription, with founding members receiving an autographed 1st edition hardcover copy of her book, The Plant Hunter.
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